State officials want to get the word out that changes to the state's Safe Haven for Newborns Law that went into affect this month, makes sure that infants are safe and their parents can turn unwanted newborns over without fear of prosecution.
            
The amended law now allows a mother, or someone acting with her permission to safely surrender her unharmed infant born within the past seven days to a hospital.

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson says the law protects the newborn, the parent, and the individual leaving the baby

Representative Nora Slawik, who authored the new bill. said the public needs to be aware of the changes

The new bill was prompted by the discovery of the body of a newborn baby girl found floating in the Mississippi River in a canvas bag near Homer on Labor Day last year.

The case, involving the baby, whom authorities named "Angel," has yet to be solved.